AIPAC lauds U.S. veto of Jerusalem resolution

The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) on Monday evening welcomed the United States’ veto of United Nations Security Council resolution seeking to overrule President Donald Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

“AIPAC applauds the veto cast by the United States today at the United Nations Security Council of a proposed resolution objecting to American recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital. We deeply appreciate President Trump and his administration's courageous stance on this issue,” the organization said in a statement.

“U.S. Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley stated that America rejects the ‘double standard’ that attacks American impartiality when Washington expresses the will of the American people by moving our U.S. embassy, but somehow accepts the notion that the UN is a neutral party when it consistently singles out Israel for condemnation,” it continued.

“Instead of considering counterproductive and biased resolutions seeking to condemn America for accepting Jerusalem as Israel's capital, the United Nations should urge Palestinians to return to the negotiating table with Israel. That is the path to peace,” concluded AIPAC.

The resolution which Washington vetoed had called on “all States to refrain from the establishment of diplomatic missions in the Holy City of Jerusalem" in order to prevent the fulfillment of President Trump's pledge to relocate the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

The text also demanded that all states "comply with Security Council resolutions regarding the Holy City of Jerusalem, and not recognize any actions or measures contrary to those resolutions.”

14 members of the Security Council supported the resolution, with only the United States in opposition.

"Thank you, Ambassador Haley," Netanyahu wrote on his Twitter account. "On Hanukkah, you spoke like a Maccabi. You lit a candle of truth. You dispel the darkness [as they did]. One defeated the many. Truth defeated lies. Thank you, President Trump. Thank you, Nikki Haley."

The Palestinian Authority, meanwhile, slammed the veto, with a spokesperson for chairman Mahmoud Abbas saying it was "unacceptable" and adding that it "threatens the stability of the international community because it disrespects it."